Abiotic stresses and soil nutrient limitations are major environmental conditions that reduce plant growth,productivity and quality.Plants have evolved mechanisms to perceive these environmental challenges,transmit th...Abiotic stresses and soil nutrient limitations are major environmental conditions that reduce plant growth,productivity and quality.Plants have evolved mechanisms to perceive these environmental challenges,transmit the stress signals within cells as well as between cells and tissues,and make appropriate adjustments in their growth and development in order to survive and reproduce.In recent years,significant progress has been made on many fronts of the stress signaling research,particularly in understanding the downstream signaling events that culminate at the activation of stress-and nutrient limitation-responsive genes,cellular ion homeostasis,and growth adjustment.However,the revelation of the early events of stress signaling,particularly the identification of primary stress sensors,still lags behind.In this review,we summarize recent work on the genetic and molecular mechanisms of plant abiotic stress and nutrient limitation sensing and signaling and discuss new directions for future studies.展开更多
Stomata, the pores formed by a pair of guard cells, are the main gateways for water transpiration and photosynthetic CO2 exchange, as well as pathogen invasion in land plants. Guard cell movement is regulated by a com...Stomata, the pores formed by a pair of guard cells, are the main gateways for water transpiration and photosynthetic CO2 exchange, as well as pathogen invasion in land plants. Guard cell movement is regulated by a combination of environmental factors, including water status, light, CO2 levels and pathogen attack, as well as endogenous signals, such as abscisic acid and apoplastic reactive oxygen species （ROS）. Under abiotic and biotic stress conditions, extracellular ROS are mainly produced by plasma membrane-localized NADPH oxidases, whereas intracellular ROS are produced in multiple organelles. These ROS form a sophisticated cellular signaling network, with the accumulation of apoplastic ROS an early hallmark of stomatal movement. Here, we review recent progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms of the ROS signaling network, primarily during drought stress and pathogen attack. We summarize the roles of apoplastic ROS in regulating stomatal movement, ABA and CO2 signaling, and immunity responses. Finally, we discuss ROS accumulation and communication between organelles and cells. This information provides a conceptual framework for understanding how ROS signaling is integrated with various signaling pathways during plant responses to abiotic and biotic stress stimuli.展开更多
Grain size is an important yield-related trait in rice. Intensive artificial selection for grain size during domestication is evidenced by the larger grains of most of today＇s cultivars compared with their wild relat...Grain size is an important yield-related trait in rice. Intensive artificial selection for grain size during domestication is evidenced by the larger grains of most of today＇s cultivars compared with their wild relatives. However, the molecular genetic control of rice grain size is still not well characterized. Here, we report the identification and cloning of Grain Size 6 （GS6）, which plays an important role in reducing grain size in rice. A premature stop at the ＋348 position in the coding sequence （CDS） of GS6 increased grain width and weight significantly. Alignment of the CDS regions of GS6 in 90 rice materials revealed three GS6 alleles. Most japonica varieties （95%） harbor the Type I haplotype, and 62.9% of indica varieties harbor the Type II haplotype. Association analysis revealed that the Type I haplotype tends to increase the width and weight of grains more than either of the Type II or Type III haplotypes. Further investigation of genetic diversity and the evolutionary mechanisms of GS6 showed that the GS6 gene was strongly selected in japonica cultivars. In addition, a ＂ggc＂ repeat region identified in the region that encodes the GRAS domain of GS6 played an important historic role in the domestication of grain size in rice. Knowledge of the function of GS6 might aid efforts to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that control grain development and evolution in rice plants, and could facilitate the genetic improvement of rice yield.展开更多
Long non-coding RNAs （lncRNAs） are a group of RNA transcripts that exceed 200 nt in length, yet lack significant open reading frames （ORFs） [1-4]. In contrast to small non-coding RNAs （ncRNAs）, such as microRNAs...Long non-coding RNAs （lncRNAs） are a group of RNA transcripts that exceed 200 nt in length, yet lack significant open reading frames （ORFs） [1-4]. In contrast to small non-coding RNAs （ncRNAs）, such as microRNAs （miR- NAs） [4-23], small interfering RNAs （siRNAs） [24-31] and transfer RNAs （tRNAs） [32-34], there are thousands of IncRNA genes discovered during the past three years in the human genome and most of their functions remain elusive. The long nucleotide chain of lncRNAs can either form a complex spatial structure and interact with protein factors, or provide a large segment for the concurrent binding of many molecules that collectively participate in genomic imprinting, X-chromosome silencing, chromosome modifi- cation, intranuclear transport, transcriptional activation and interference, thereby regulating cell growth, differentiation, development, senescence and death [35].展开更多
Rice(Oryza sativa L.)is one of the most important crops in the world.Since the completion of rice reference genome sequences,tremendous progress has been achieved in understanding the molecular mechanisms on various r...Rice(Oryza sativa L.)is one of the most important crops in the world.Since the completion of rice reference genome sequences,tremendous progress has been achieved in understanding the molecular mechanisms on various rice traits and dissecting the underlying regulatory networks.In this review,we summarize the research progress of rice biology over past decades,including omics,genome-wide association study,phytohormone action,nutrient use,biotic and abiotic responses,photoperiodic flowering,and reproductive development(fertility and sterility).For the roads ahead,cutting-edge technologies such as new genomics methods,high-throughput phenotyping platforms,precise genome-editing tools,environmental microbiome optimization,and synthetic methods will further extend our understanding of unsolved molecular biology questions in rice,and facilitate integrations of the knowledge for agricultural applications.展开更多
Aging biomarkers are a combination of biological parameters to(i)assess age-related changes,(ii)track the physiological aging process,and(iii)predict the transition into a pathological status.Although a broad spectrum...Aging biomarkers are a combination of biological parameters to(i)assess age-related changes,(ii)track the physiological aging process,and(iii)predict the transition into a pathological status.Although a broad spectrum of aging biomarkers has been developed,their potential uses and limitations remain poorly characterized.An immediate goal of biomarkers is to help us answer the following three fundamental questions in aging research:How old are we?Why do we get old?And how can we age slower?This review aims to address this need.Here,we summarize our current knowledge of biomarkers developed for cellular,organ,and organismal levels of aging,comprising six pillars:physiological characteristics,medical imaging,histological features,cellular alterations,molecular changes,and secretory factors.To fulfill all these requisites,we propose that aging biomarkers should qualify for being specific,systemic,and clinically relevant.展开更多
Many important agronomic traits, including cold stress resistance, are complex and controlled by quantitative trait loci （QTLs）. Isolation of these QTLs will greatly benefit the agricultural industry but it is a cha...Many important agronomic traits, including cold stress resistance, are complex and controlled by quantitative trait loci （QTLs）. Isolation of these QTLs will greatly benefit the agricultural industry but it is a challenging task. This study explored an integrated strategy by combining microarray with QTL-mapping in order to identify cold-tolerant QTLs from a cold-tolerant variety ILl12 at early-seedling stage. All the early seedlings of IL112 survived normally for 9 d at 4-5℃, while Guichao2 （GC2）, an indica cultivar, died after 4 d under the same conditions. Using the F2-3 population derived from the progeny of GC2 and ILl12, we identified seven QTLs for cold tolerance. Furthermore, we performed Affymetrix rice whole-genome array hybridization and obtained the expression profiles of ILl12 and GC2 under both low-temperature and normal conditions. Four genes were selected as cold QTL-related candidates, based on microarray data mining and QTL-mapping. One candidate gene, LOC_Os07g22494, was shown to be highly associated with cold tolerance in a number of rice varieties and in the F2-3 population, and its overexpression transgenic rice plants displayed strong tolerance to low temperature at early-seedling stage. The results indicated that overexpression of this gene （LOC_Os07g22494） could increase cold tolerance in rice seedlings. Therefore, this study provides a promising strategy for identifying candidate genes in defined QTL regions.展开更多
Grain size is one of the most important factors that control rice yield,as it is associated with grain weight(GW).To date,dozens of rice genes that regulate grain size have been isolated;however,the regulatory mechani...Grain size is one of the most important factors that control rice yield,as it is associated with grain weight(GW).To date,dozens of rice genes that regulate grain size have been isolated;however,the regulatory mechanism underlying GW control is not fully understood.Here,the quantitative trait locus qGL5 for grain length(GL)and GW was identified in recombinant inbred lines of 9311 and Nipponbare(NPB)and fine mapped to a candidate gene,OsAUX3.Sequence variations between 9311 and NPB in the OsAUX3 promoter and loss of function of OsAUX3 led to higher GL and GW.RNA sequencing,gene expression quantification,dual-luciferase reporter assays,chromatin immunoprecipitation-quantitative PCR,and yeast one-hybrid assays demonstrated that OsARF6 is an upstream transcription factor regulating the expression of OsAUX3.OsARF6 binds directly to the auxin response elements of the OsAUX3 promoter,covering a single-nucleotide polymorphism site between 9311 and NPB/Dongjin/Hwayoung,and thereby controls GL by altering longitudinal expansion and auxin distribution/content in glume cells.Furthermore,we showed that miR167a positively regulate GL and GW by directing OsARF6 mRNA silencing.Taken together,our study reveals that a novel miR167a-OsARF6-OsAUX3 module regulates GL and GW in rice,providing a potential target for the improvement of rice yield.展开更多
Tiller angle is a key feature of the architecture of cultivated rice （Oryza sativa）, since it determines planting density and influences rice yield. Our previous work identified Tiller Angle Control 1 （TACI） as a ...Tiller angle is a key feature of the architecture of cultivated rice （Oryza sativa）, since it determines planting density and influences rice yield. Our previous work identified Tiller Angle Control 1 （TACI） as a major quantitative trait locus that controls rice filler angle. To further clarify the evolutionary characterization of the TAC1 gene, we compared a TACl-containing 3164-bp genomic region among 113 cultivated varieties and 48 accessions of wild rice, including 43 accessions of O. rufipogon and five accessions of O. nivara. Only one single nucleotide polymorphism （SNP）, a synonymous substitution, was detected in TAC1 coding regions of the cultivated rice varieties, whereas one synonymous and one nonsynonymous SNP were detected among the TAC1 coding regions of wild rice accessions. These data indicate that little natural mutation and modification in the TAC1 coding region occurred within the cultivated rice and its progenitor during evolution. Nucleotide diversities in the TAC1 gene regions of O. sativa and O. rufipogon of 0.00116 and 0.00112, respectively, further indicate that TAC1 has been highly conserved during the course of rice domestication. A functional nucleotide polymorphism （FNP） of TAC1 was only found in the japonica rice group. A neutrality test revealed strong selection, especially in the 3＇-flanking region of the TAC1 coding region containing the FNP in the japonica rice group. However, no selection occurred in the indica and wild-rice groups. A phylogenetic tree derived from TAC1 sequence analysis suggests that the indica and japonica subspecies arose indepen- dently during the domestication of wild rice.展开更多
Plant genomes are so highly diverse that a substantial proportion of genomic sequences are not shared among individuals.The variable DNA sequences,along with the conserved core sequences,compose the more sophisticated...Plant genomes are so highly diverse that a substantial proportion of genomic sequences are not shared among individuals.The variable DNA sequences,along with the conserved core sequences,compose the more sophisticated pan-genome that represents the collection of all non-redundant DNA in a species.With rapid progress in genome sequencing technologies,pan-genome research in plants is now accelerating.Here we review recent advances in plant pan-genomics,including major driving forces of structural variations that constitute the variable sequences,methodological innovations for representing the pan-genome,and major successes in constructing plant pan-genomes.We also summarize recent efforts toward decoding the remaining dark matter in telomere-to-telomere or gapless plant genomes.These new genome resources,which have remarkable advantages over numerous previously assembled less-than-perfect genomes,are expected to become new references for genetic studies and plant breeding.展开更多
Epstein-Barr virus(EBV)is associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC)tumorigenesis.However,the mechanism(s)connecting EBV infection and NPC remain unclear.Recently,a new class of EBV microRNAs(miRNAs)has been descri...Epstein-Barr virus(EBV)is associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC)tumorigenesis.However,the mechanism(s)connecting EBV infection and NPC remain unclear.Recently,a new class of EBV microRNAs(miRNAs)has been described.To determine how EBV miRNAs control the expression of host genes,and to understand their potential role in NPC tumorigenesis,we profiled the expression of 44 mature EBV miRNAs and potential host genes in NPC and non-tumor nasopharyngeal epithelial tissues.We found that 40 EBV miRNAs from the BART transcript were highly expressed in NPC.Analysis of potential BART miRNA target genes revealed that 3140 genes and several important pathways might be involved in the carcinogenesis of NPC.A total of 105 genes with potential EBV miRNA binding sites were significantly downregulated,suggesting that EBV miRNAs may regulate these genes and contribute to NPC carcinogenesis.An EBV miRNA and host gene regulation network was generated to provide useful clues for validating of EBV miRNA functions in NPC tumorigenesis.展开更多
Background： Early pregnancy failure has a profound impact on both human reproductive health and animal production. 2/3 pregnancy failures occur during the peri-implantation period; however, the underlying mechanism（...Background： Early pregnancy failure has a profound impact on both human reproductive health and animal production. 2/3 pregnancy failures occur during the peri-implantation period; however, the underlying mechanism（s） remains unclear. Well-organized modification of the endometrium to a receptive state is critical to establish pregnancy Aberrant endometrial modification during implantation is thought to be largely responsible for early pregnancy loss. Result： In this study, using well-managed recipient ewes that received embryo transfer as model, we compared the endometrial proteome between pregnant and non-pregnant ewes during implantation period. After embryo transfer, recipients were assigned as pregnant or non-pregnant ewes according to the presence or absence of an elongated conceptus at Day 17 of pregnancy. By comparing the endometrial proteomic profiles between pregnant and non-pregnant ewes, we identified 94 and 257 differentially expressed proteins （DEPs） in the endometrial caruncular and intercaruncular areas, respectively. Functional analysis showed that the DEPs were mainly associated with immune response, nutrient transport and utilization, as well as proteasome-mediated proteolysis. Conclusion： These analysis imply that dysfunction of these biological processes or pathways of DEP in the endometrium is highly associated with early pregnancy loss. In addition, many proteins that are essential for the establishment of pregnancy showed dysregulation in the endometrium of non-pregnant ewes. These proteins, as potential candidates, may contribute to early pregnancy loss.展开更多
It is a long-standing question as to which genes define the characteristic facial features among different ethnic groups. In this study, we use Uyghurs, an ancient admixed population to query the genetic bases why Eur...It is a long-standing question as to which genes define the characteristic facial features among different ethnic groups. In this study, we use Uyghurs, an ancient admixed population to query the genetic bases why Europeans and Han Chinese look different. Facial traits were analyzed based on high-dense 3D facial images; numerous biometric spaces were examined for divergent facial features between European and Han Chinese, ranging from inter-landmark distances to dense shape geometrics, Genome-wide associ- ation studies （GWAS） were conducted on a discovery panel of Uyghurs, Six significant loci were iden- tified, four of which, rs1868752, rs118078182, rs60159418 at or near UBASH3B, COL23A1, PCDH7 and rs17868256 were replicated in independent cohorts of Uyghurs or Southern Han Chinese. A prospective model was also developed to predict 3D faces based on top GWAS signals and tested in hypothetic forensic scenarios.展开更多
Hypobaric hypoxia (HH) exposure can cause serious brain injury as well as life-threatening cerebral edema in severe cases. Previous studies on the mechanisms of HH-induced brain injury have been conducted primarily us...Hypobaric hypoxia (HH) exposure can cause serious brain injury as well as life-threatening cerebral edema in severe cases. Previous studies on the mechanisms of HH-induced brain injury have been conducted primarily using non-primate animal models that are genetically distant to humans, thus hindering the development of disease treatment. Here, we report that cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) exposed to acute HH developed human-like HH syndrome involving severe brain injury and abnormal behavior. Transcriptome profiling of white blood cells and brain tissue from monkeys exposed to increasing altitude revealed the central role of the HIF-1 and other novel signaling pathways, such as the vitamin D receptor (VDR) signaling pathway, in co-regulating HH-induced inflammation processes. We also observed profound transcriptomic alterations in brains after exposure to acute HH, including the activation of angiogenesis and impairment of aerobic respiration and protein folding processes, which likely underlie the pathological effects of HH-induced brain injury. Administration of progesterone (PROG) and steroid neuroprotectant 5α-androst-3β,5,6β-triol (TRIOL) significantly attenuated brain injuries and rescued the transcriptomic changes induced by acute HH. Functional investigation of the affected genes suggested that these two neuroprotectants protect the brain by targeting different pathways, with PROG enhancing erythropoiesis and TRIOL suppressing glutamate-induced excitotoxicity. Thus, this study advances our understanding of the pathology induced by acute HH and provides potential compounds for the development of neuroprotectant drugs for therapeutic treatment.展开更多
CDC42 controls intestinal epithelial(IEC)stem cell(IESC)division.How aberrant CDC42 initiates intestinal inflammation or neoplasia is unclear.We utilized models of inflam-matory bowel diseases(IBD),colorectal cancer,a...CDC42 controls intestinal epithelial(IEC)stem cell(IESC)division.How aberrant CDC42 initiates intestinal inflammation or neoplasia is unclear.We utilized models of inflam-matory bowel diseases(IBD),colorectal cancer,aging,and IESC injury to determine the loss of intestinal Cdc42 upon inflammation and neoplasia.Intestinal specimens were collected to determine the levels of CDC42 in IBD or colorectal cancer.Cdc42 floxed mice were crossed with Villin-Cre,Villin-CreERT2 and/or Lgr5-eGFP-IRES-CreERT2,or Bmi1-CreERT2 mice to generate Cdc42 deficient mice.Irradiation,colitis,aging,and intestinal organoid were used to evaluate CDC42 upon mucosal inflammation,IESC/progenitor regenerative capacity,and IEC repair.Our studies revealed that increased CDC42 in colorectal cancer correlated with lower survival;in contrast,lower levels of CDC42 were found in the inflamed IBD colon.Colonic Cdc42 depletion significantly reduced Lgr5+IEsCs,increased progenitors'hyperplasia,and induced mucosal inflammation,which led to crypt dysplasia.Colonic Cdc42 depletion markedly enhanced irra-diation-or chemical-induced colitis.Depletion or inhibition of Cdc42 reduced colonic Lgr5+IESC regeneration.In conclusion,depletion of Cdc42 reduces the IESC regeneration and IEC repair,leading to prolonged mucosal inflammation.Constitutive monogenic loss of Cdc42 in-duces mucosal inflammation,which could result in intestinal neoplasia in the context of aging.展开更多
Coix lacryma-jobi,a plant species closely related to Zea and Sorghum,is an important food and medicinal crop in Asia.However,no reference genome of this species has been reported,and its exact phylogeny within the And...Coix lacryma-jobi,a plant species closely related to Zea and Sorghum,is an important food and medicinal crop in Asia.However,no reference genome of this species has been reported,and its exact phylogeny within the Andropogoneae remains unresolved.Here,we generated a high-quality genome assembly of coix comprising～1.73 Gb with 44485 predicted protein-coding genes.We found coix to be a typical diploid plant with an overall 1-to-1 syntenic relationship with the Sorghum genome,despite its drastic genome expansion(～2.3-fold)due mainly to the activity of transposable elements.Phylogenetic analysis revealed that coix diverged with sorghum～10.41 million years ago,which was～1.49 million years later than the divergence between sorghum and maize.Resequencing of 27 additional coix accessions revealed that they could be unambiguously separated into wild relatives and cultivars,and suggested that coix experienced a strong genetic bottleneck,resulting in the loss of about half of the genetic diversity during domestication,even though many traits have remained undomesticated.Our data not only provide novel comparative genomic and evolutionary insights into the Andropogoneae lineage,but also an important resource that will greatly benefit molecular breeding of this important crop.展开更多
Rice（Oryza sativa L.）, a tropical and subtropical crop, is susceptible to low temperature stress during seedling, booting, and flowering stages, which leads to lower grain quality levels and decreasing rice yields. ...Rice（Oryza sativa L.）, a tropical and subtropical crop, is susceptible to low temperature stress during seedling, booting, and flowering stages, which leads to lower grain quality levels and decreasing rice yields. Cold tolerance is affected by multiple genetic factors in rice, and the complex genetic mechanisms associated with chilling stress tolerance remain unclear. Here, we detected seven quantitative trait loci（QTLs） for cold tolerance at booting stage and identified one cold tolerant line, SIL157, in an introgression line population derived from a cross between the indica variety Guichao 2, as the recipient, and Dongxiang common wild rice, as the donor. When compared with Guichao 2, SIL157 showed a stronger cold tolerance during different growth stages. Through an integrated strategy that combined QTL-mapping with expression profile analysis, six candidate genes, which were up-regulated under chilling stress at the seedling and booting developmental stages, were studied. The results may help in understanding cold tolerance mechanisms and in using beneficial alleles from wild rice to improve the cold tolerance of rice cultivars through molecular marker-assisted selection.展开更多
Crop domestication has fundamentally altered the course of human history,causing a shift from huntergatherer to agricultural societies and stimulating the rise of modern civilization.A greater understanding of crop do...Crop domestication has fundamentally altered the course of human history,causing a shift from huntergatherer to agricultural societies and stimulating the rise of modern civilization.A greater understanding of crop domestication would provide a theoretical basis for how we could improve current crops and develop new crops to deal with environmental challenges in a sustainable manner.Here,we provide a comprehensive summary of the similarities and differences in the domestication processes of maize and rice,two major staple food crops that feed the world.We propose that maize and rice might have evolved distinct genetic solutions toward domestication.Maize and rice domestication appears to be associated with distinct regulatory and evolutionary mechanisms.Rice domestication tended to select de novo,loss-of-function,coding variation,while maize domestication more frequently favored standing,gain-offunction,regulatory variation.At the gene network level,distinct genetic paths were used to acquire convergent phenotypes in maize and rice domestication,during which different central genes were utilized,orthologous genes played different evolutionary roles,and unique genes or regulatory modules were acquired for establishing new traits.Finally,we discuss how the knowledge gained from past domestication processes,together with emerging technologies,could be exploited to improve modern crop breeding and domesticate new crops to meet increasing human demands.展开更多
Interorganelle contacts and communications are increasingly recognized to play a vital role in cellular function and homeostasis.In particular,the mitochondria–endoplasmic reticulum(ER)membrane contact site(MAM)is kn...Interorganelle contacts and communications are increasingly recognized to play a vital role in cellular function and homeostasis.In particular,the mitochondria–endoplasmic reticulum(ER)membrane contact site(MAM)is known to regulate ion and lipid transfer,as well as signaling and organelle dynamics.However,the regulatory mechanisms of MAM formation and their function are still elusive.Here,we identify mitochondrial Lon protease(LonP1),a highly conserved mitochondrial matrix protease,as a new MAM tethering protein.The removal of LonP1 substantially reduces MAM formation and causes mitochondrial fragmentation.Furthermore,deletion of LonP1 in the cardiomyocytes of mouse heart impairs MAM integrity and mitochondrial fusion and activates the unfolded protein response within the ER(UPR^(ER)).Consequently,cardiac-specific LonP1 deficiency causes aberrant metabolic reprogramming and pathological heart remodeling.These findings demonstrate that LonP1 is a novel MAM-localized protein orchestrating MAM integrity,mitochondrial dynamics,and UPR^(ER),offering exciting new insights into the potential therapeutic strategy for heart failure.展开更多
Eukaryotic genomes encode thousands of non-coding RNAs （ncRNAs）, which play cru- cial roles in transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Accumulating evidence indicates that ncRNAs, esp...Eukaryotic genomes encode thousands of non-coding RNAs （ncRNAs）, which play cru- cial roles in transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Accumulating evidence indicates that ncRNAs, especially microRNAs （miRNAs） and long ncRNAs （lncRNAs）, have emerged as key regulatory molecules in plant stress responses. In this review, we have summa- rized the current progress on the understanding of plant miRNA and incRNA identification, characteristics, bioinformatics tools, and resources, and provided examples of mechanisms of miRNA- and lncRNA-mediated plant stress tolerance.展开更多
文摘Abiotic stresses and soil nutrient limitations are major environmental conditions that reduce plant growth,productivity and quality.Plants have evolved mechanisms to perceive these environmental challenges,transmit the stress signals within cells as well as between cells and tissues,and make appropriate adjustments in their growth and development in order to survive and reproduce.In recent years,significant progress has been made on many fronts of the stress signaling research,particularly in understanding the downstream signaling events that culminate at the activation of stress-and nutrient limitation-responsive genes,cellular ion homeostasis,and growth adjustment.However,the revelation of the early events of stress signaling,particularly the identification of primary stress sensors,still lags behind.In this review,we summarize recent work on the genetic and molecular mechanisms of plant abiotic stress and nutrient limitation sensing and signaling and discuss new directions for future studies.
基金supported by the National Key Scientific Research Project(2011CB915400)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31730007)
文摘Stomata, the pores formed by a pair of guard cells, are the main gateways for water transpiration and photosynthetic CO2 exchange, as well as pathogen invasion in land plants. Guard cell movement is regulated by a combination of environmental factors, including water status, light, CO2 levels and pathogen attack, as well as endogenous signals, such as abscisic acid and apoplastic reactive oxygen species （ROS）. Under abiotic and biotic stress conditions, extracellular ROS are mainly produced by plasma membrane-localized NADPH oxidases, whereas intracellular ROS are produced in multiple organelles. These ROS form a sophisticated cellular signaling network, with the accumulation of apoplastic ROS an early hallmark of stomatal movement. Here, we review recent progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms of the ROS signaling network, primarily during drought stress and pathogen attack. We summarize the roles of apoplastic ROS in regulating stomatal movement, ABA and CO2 signaling, and immunity responses. Finally, we discuss ROS accumulation and communication between organelles and cells. This information provides a conceptual framework for understanding how ROS signaling is integrated with various signaling pathways during plant responses to abiotic and biotic stress stimuli.
基金supported by the National High tech R&D Program of China(863 Program)(2012AA10A301)a grant fromthe Agricultural Ministry of China(grant No.2008ZX08009 003)the Self Regulated Projects of the State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry
文摘Grain size is an important yield-related trait in rice. Intensive artificial selection for grain size during domestication is evidenced by the larger grains of most of today＇s cultivars compared with their wild relatives. However, the molecular genetic control of rice grain size is still not well characterized. Here, we report the identification and cloning of Grain Size 6 （GS6）, which plays an important role in reducing grain size in rice. A premature stop at the ＋348 position in the coding sequence （CDS） of GS6 increased grain width and weight significantly. Alignment of the CDS regions of GS6 in 90 rice materials revealed three GS6 alleles. Most japonica varieties （95%） harbor the Type I haplotype, and 62.9% of indica varieties harbor the Type II haplotype. Association analysis revealed that the Type I haplotype tends to increase the width and weight of grains more than either of the Type II or Type III haplotypes. Further investigation of genetic diversity and the evolutionary mechanisms of GS6 showed that the GS6 gene was strongly selected in japonica cultivars. In addition, a ＂ggc＂ repeat region identified in the region that encodes the GRAS domain of GS6 played an important historic role in the domestication of grain size in rice. Knowledge of the function of GS6 might aid efforts to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that control grain development and evolution in rice plants, and could facilitate the genetic improvement of rice yield.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 30971147, 81071644, 81172189, 81171930, 81272255,81272297, 81272298 and 91229122)the Hunan Province Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 10JJ7003)+3 种基金the Fok Ying Tong Education Foundation (Grant No. 121036)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Grant No. 2011JQ020)the Mittal Innovative Entre-preneurial Project of Central South University (Grant No. 11MX27)the Open-End Fund for the Valuable and Precision Instruments of Central South University and the Postdoctoral Science Foundation of Central South University
文摘Long non-coding RNAs （lncRNAs） are a group of RNA transcripts that exceed 200 nt in length, yet lack significant open reading frames （ORFs） [1-4]. In contrast to small non-coding RNAs （ncRNAs）, such as microRNAs （miR- NAs） [4-23], small interfering RNAs （siRNAs） [24-31] and transfer RNAs （tRNAs） [32-34], there are thousands of IncRNA genes discovered during the past three years in the human genome and most of their functions remain elusive. The long nucleotide chain of lncRNAs can either form a complex spatial structure and interact with protein factors, or provide a large segment for the concurrent binding of many molecules that collectively participate in genomic imprinting, X-chromosome silencing, chromosome modifi- cation, intranuclear transport, transcriptional activation and interference, thereby regulating cell growth, differentiation, development, senescence and death [35].
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31825015,31921001,31921004,31991222,32122012,32002119,and 31788103)to X.H.,S.Y.,J.G.,Y.L.,B.W.,Z.Z.,and J.L.,respectively。
文摘Rice(Oryza sativa L.)is one of the most important crops in the world.Since the completion of rice reference genome sequences,tremendous progress has been achieved in understanding the molecular mechanisms on various rice traits and dissecting the underlying regulatory networks.In this review,we summarize the research progress of rice biology over past decades,including omics,genome-wide association study,phytohormone action,nutrient use,biotic and abiotic responses,photoperiodic flowering,and reproductive development(fertility and sterility).For the roads ahead,cutting-edge technologies such as new genomics methods,high-throughput phenotyping platforms,precise genome-editing tools,environmental microbiome optimization,and synthetic methods will further extend our understanding of unsolved molecular biology questions in rice,and facilitate integrations of the knowledge for agricultural applications.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31730036,31871380,31871382,31930055,31930058,32000500,32022034,32030033,32070730,32130046,3217050247,32150005,32200595,32222024,81730019,81730022,81830014,81921006,81925005,81970426,81971301,81971312,82030041,82061160495,82070805,82071595,82090020,82100841,82120108009,82122024,82125002,82125011,82125012,82130045,82171284,82173061,82173398,82225007,82225015,82225017,82225018,82230047,82230088,82271600,91949106,91949201,92049116,92049302,92049304,92149303,92149306,92157202,92168201,92169102,92249301,92268201)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2018YFA0800700,2018YFC2000100,2018YFC2000102,2018YFC2002003,2019YFA0110900,2019YFA0801703,2019YFA0801903,2019YFA0802202,2019YFA0904800,2020YFA0113400,2020YFA0803401,2020YFA0804000,2020YFC2002900,2020YFC2008000,2020YFE0202200,2021YFA0804900,2021YFA1100103,2021YFA1100900,2021YFE0114200,2021ZD0202400,2022YFA0806001,2022YFA0806002,2022YFA0806600,2022YFA1103200,2022YFA1103601,2022YFA1103701,2022YFA1103800,2022YFA1103801,2022YFA1104100,2022YFA1104904,2022YFA1303000,2022YFC2009900,2022YFC2502401,2022YFC3602400,2022YFE0118000,2022ZD0213200)+9 种基金the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDA16030302,XDB39000000,XDB39030600)the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of Chinese Academy of Sciences(2020085,2021080)CAS Project for Young Scientists in Basic Research(YSBR-076)the Program of the Beijing Natural Science Foundation(JQ20031)Clinical Research Operating Fund of Central High level hospitals(2022-PUMCHE-001)CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences(CIFMS)(2022-I2M1-004)Talent Program of the Chinese Academy of Medical Science(2022RC310-10)Research Funds from Health@Inno HK Program launched by Innovation Technology Commission of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region,Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(2020B1515020044)Guangzhou Planned Project of Science and Technology(202002020039)the Major Technology Innovation of Hubei Province(2019ACA14
文摘Aging biomarkers are a combination of biological parameters to(i)assess age-related changes,(ii)track the physiological aging process,and(iii)predict the transition into a pathological status.Although a broad spectrum of aging biomarkers has been developed,their potential uses and limitations remain poorly characterized.An immediate goal of biomarkers is to help us answer the following three fundamental questions in aging research:How old are we?Why do we get old?And how can we age slower?This review aims to address this need.Here,we summarize our current knowledge of biomarkers developed for cellular,organ,and organismal levels of aging,comprising six pillars:physiological characteristics,medical imaging,histological features,cellular alterations,molecular changes,and secretory factors.To fulfill all these requisites,we propose that aging biomarkers should qualify for being specific,systemic,and clinically relevant.
基金This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation （Grant No. 30971755）Ministry of Agriculture of China （Grant No. 2009ZX08009-106B）, Self-Regulated Projects of State Key Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, and Chang Jiang Scholars Program.The authors thank Ms Hong Yan （China Agricultural University） and Ms Zhuo Xing （Chinese Academy of Sciences） for their kind assistance in the GeneChip and qRT-PCR operations. We also thank Professor Daoxin Xie （Tsinghua University, China） and Professor Zhizhong Gong （China Agricultural University） for pre-reviewing the paper and for their helpful suggestions. No conflict of interest declared.
文摘Many important agronomic traits, including cold stress resistance, are complex and controlled by quantitative trait loci （QTLs）. Isolation of these QTLs will greatly benefit the agricultural industry but it is a challenging task. This study explored an integrated strategy by combining microarray with QTL-mapping in order to identify cold-tolerant QTLs from a cold-tolerant variety ILl12 at early-seedling stage. All the early seedlings of IL112 survived normally for 9 d at 4-5℃, while Guichao2 （GC2）, an indica cultivar, died after 4 d under the same conditions. Using the F2-3 population derived from the progeny of GC2 and ILl12, we identified seven QTLs for cold tolerance. Furthermore, we performed Affymetrix rice whole-genome array hybridization and obtained the expression profiles of ILl12 and GC2 under both low-temperature and normal conditions. Four genes were selected as cold QTL-related candidates, based on microarray data mining and QTL-mapping. One candidate gene, LOC_Os07g22494, was shown to be highly associated with cold tolerance in a number of rice varieties and in the F2-3 population, and its overexpression transgenic rice plants displayed strong tolerance to low temperature at early-seedling stage. The results indicated that overexpression of this gene （LOC_Os07g22494） could increase cold tolerance in rice seedlings. Therefore, this study provides a promising strategy for identifying candidate genes in defined QTL regions.
基金This project was funded by grants from the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2016YFD0100400)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32060451)the Zhejiang Provincial Nat-ural Science Foundation of China(grant no.L Z19C020001).
文摘Grain size is one of the most important factors that control rice yield,as it is associated with grain weight(GW).To date,dozens of rice genes that regulate grain size have been isolated;however,the regulatory mechanism underlying GW control is not fully understood.Here,the quantitative trait locus qGL5 for grain length(GL)and GW was identified in recombinant inbred lines of 9311 and Nipponbare(NPB)and fine mapped to a candidate gene,OsAUX3.Sequence variations between 9311 and NPB in the OsAUX3 promoter and loss of function of OsAUX3 led to higher GL and GW.RNA sequencing,gene expression quantification,dual-luciferase reporter assays,chromatin immunoprecipitation-quantitative PCR,and yeast one-hybrid assays demonstrated that OsARF6 is an upstream transcription factor regulating the expression of OsAUX3.OsARF6 binds directly to the auxin response elements of the OsAUX3 promoter,covering a single-nucleotide polymorphism site between 9311 and NPB/Dongjin/Hwayoung,and thereby controls GL by altering longitudinal expansion and auxin distribution/content in glume cells.Furthermore,we showed that miR167a positively regulate GL and GW by directing OsARF6 mRNA silencing.Taken together,our study reveals that a novel miR167a-OsARF6-OsAUX3 module regulates GL and GW in rice,providing a potential target for the improvement of rice yield.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China(Grant No.2011CB100201)the National Natural Science Foundation(Grant No.30930057)the Chang Jiang Scholars Program
文摘Tiller angle is a key feature of the architecture of cultivated rice （Oryza sativa）, since it determines planting density and influences rice yield. Our previous work identified Tiller Angle Control 1 （TACI） as a major quantitative trait locus that controls rice filler angle. To further clarify the evolutionary characterization of the TAC1 gene, we compared a TACl-containing 3164-bp genomic region among 113 cultivated varieties and 48 accessions of wild rice, including 43 accessions of O. rufipogon and five accessions of O. nivara. Only one single nucleotide polymorphism （SNP）, a synonymous substitution, was detected in TAC1 coding regions of the cultivated rice varieties, whereas one synonymous and one nonsynonymous SNP were detected among the TAC1 coding regions of wild rice accessions. These data indicate that little natural mutation and modification in the TAC1 coding region occurred within the cultivated rice and its progenitor during evolution. Nucleotide diversities in the TAC1 gene regions of O. sativa and O. rufipogon of 0.00116 and 0.00112, respectively, further indicate that TAC1 has been highly conserved during the course of rice domestication. A functional nucleotide polymorphism （FNP） of TAC1 was only found in the japonica rice group. A neutrality test revealed strong selection, especially in the 3＇-flanking region of the TAC1 coding region containing the FNP in the japonica rice group. However, no selection occurred in the indica and wild-rice groups. A phylogenetic tree derived from TAC1 sequence analysis suggests that the indica and japonica subspecies arose indepen- dently during the domestication of wild rice.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(31825015 to X.H.31901596 to J.S.)Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by CAST(2021QNRC001 toJ.S.).
文摘Plant genomes are so highly diverse that a substantial proportion of genomic sequences are not shared among individuals.The variable DNA sequences,along with the conserved core sequences,compose the more sophisticated pan-genome that represents the collection of all non-redundant DNA in a species.With rapid progress in genome sequencing technologies,pan-genome research in plants is now accelerating.Here we review recent advances in plant pan-genomics,including major driving forces of structural variations that constitute the variable sequences,methodological innovations for representing the pan-genome,and major successes in constructing plant pan-genomes.We also summarize recent efforts toward decoding the remaining dark matter in telomere-to-telomere or gapless plant genomes.These new genome resources,which have remarkable advantages over numerous previously assembled less-than-perfect genomes,are expected to become new references for genetic studies and plant breeding.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81172189,81171930,81272298,81272254,91229122,81301757,81372907)the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province(14JJ1010)+1 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2011JQ020)the Postdoctoral Science Foundation of Central South University
文摘Epstein-Barr virus(EBV)is associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC)tumorigenesis.However,the mechanism(s)connecting EBV infection and NPC remain unclear.Recently,a new class of EBV microRNAs(miRNAs)has been described.To determine how EBV miRNAs control the expression of host genes,and to understand their potential role in NPC tumorigenesis,we profiled the expression of 44 mature EBV miRNAs and potential host genes in NPC and non-tumor nasopharyngeal epithelial tissues.We found that 40 EBV miRNAs from the BART transcript were highly expressed in NPC.Analysis of potential BART miRNA target genes revealed that 3140 genes and several important pathways might be involved in the carcinogenesis of NPC.A total of 105 genes with potential EBV miRNA binding sites were significantly downregulated,suggesting that EBV miRNAs may regulate these genes and contribute to NPC carcinogenesis.An EBV miRNA and host gene regulation network was generated to provide useful clues for validating of EBV miRNA functions in NPC tumorigenesis.
基金supported by grants from the National High-Tech R&D Program (Nos.2011AA100303,2013AA102506)the National Key Technology R&D Program(Nos.2011BAD19B01,2011BAD19B03,2011BAD19B04)
文摘Background： Early pregnancy failure has a profound impact on both human reproductive health and animal production. 2/3 pregnancy failures occur during the peri-implantation period; however, the underlying mechanism（s） remains unclear. Well-organized modification of the endometrium to a receptive state is critical to establish pregnancy Aberrant endometrial modification during implantation is thought to be largely responsible for early pregnancy loss. Result： In this study, using well-managed recipient ewes that received embryo transfer as model, we compared the endometrial proteome between pregnant and non-pregnant ewes during implantation period. After embryo transfer, recipients were assigned as pregnant or non-pregnant ewes according to the presence or absence of an elongated conceptus at Day 17 of pregnancy. By comparing the endometrial proteomic profiles between pregnant and non-pregnant ewes, we identified 94 and 257 differentially expressed proteins （DEPs） in the endometrial caruncular and intercaruncular areas, respectively. Functional analysis showed that the DEPs were mainly associated with immune response, nutrient transport and utilization, as well as proteasome-mediated proteolysis. Conclusion： These analysis imply that dysfunction of these biological processes or pathways of DEP in the endometrium is highly associated with early pregnancy loss. In addition, many proteins that are essential for the establishment of pregnancy showed dysregulation in the endometrium of non-pregnant ewes. These proteins, as potential candidates, may contribute to early pregnancy loss.
基金funded by the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft Partner Group Grant (KT)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos.31371267,31322030,91331108 (KT)+10 种基金91731303,31771388,and 31711530221 (SX)91631307 (SW)31501011 (YL) and 31260263 (YG))supported by Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) (XDB13040100,SXXDB13041000,SW)the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (31525014,SX)the Program of Shanghai Academic Research Leader (16XD1404700,to SX)the support of a National Thousand Young Talents Award and a Max Planck-CAS Paul Gerson Unna Independent Research Group Leadership Award (SW)the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (16JC1400504,SW14YF1406800,YL16YF1413900,HL)
文摘It is a long-standing question as to which genes define the characteristic facial features among different ethnic groups. In this study, we use Uyghurs, an ancient admixed population to query the genetic bases why Europeans and Han Chinese look different. Facial traits were analyzed based on high-dense 3D facial images; numerous biometric spaces were examined for divergent facial features between European and Han Chinese, ranging from inter-landmark distances to dense shape geometrics, Genome-wide associ- ation studies （GWAS） were conducted on a discovery panel of Uyghurs, Six significant loci were iden- tified, four of which, rs1868752, rs118078182, rs60159418 at or near UBASH3B, COL23A1, PCDH7 and rs17868256 were replicated in independent cohorts of Uyghurs or Southern Han Chinese. A prospective model was also developed to predict 3D faces based on top GWAS signals and tested in hypothetic forensic scenarios.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81773711)to W.Y.Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDB13000000)+6 种基金Lundbeck Foundation Grant(R190-2014-2827)Carlsberg Foundation Grant(CF16-0663)to G.J.Z.Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou,China(201704020103)to W.Y.Introduction of Innovative R&D Team Program of Guangdong Province(2013Y104)Leading Talent Project in Science and Technology of Guangzhou Development District(2019-L002)National Major Scientific and Technological Special Project for “Significant New Drugs Development”(2016ZX09101026)to S.Z.L.Key Projects of the Military Science and Technology PLA(AWS14C007 and AWS16J023)to Y.Q.G
文摘Hypobaric hypoxia (HH) exposure can cause serious brain injury as well as life-threatening cerebral edema in severe cases. Previous studies on the mechanisms of HH-induced brain injury have been conducted primarily using non-primate animal models that are genetically distant to humans, thus hindering the development of disease treatment. Here, we report that cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) exposed to acute HH developed human-like HH syndrome involving severe brain injury and abnormal behavior. Transcriptome profiling of white blood cells and brain tissue from monkeys exposed to increasing altitude revealed the central role of the HIF-1 and other novel signaling pathways, such as the vitamin D receptor (VDR) signaling pathway, in co-regulating HH-induced inflammation processes. We also observed profound transcriptomic alterations in brains after exposure to acute HH, including the activation of angiogenesis and impairment of aerobic respiration and protein folding processes, which likely underlie the pathological effects of HH-induced brain injury. Administration of progesterone (PROG) and steroid neuroprotectant 5α-androst-3β,5,6β-triol (TRIOL) significantly attenuated brain injuries and rescued the transcriptomic changes induced by acute HH. Functional investigation of the affected genes suggested that these two neuroprotectants protect the brain by targeting different pathways, with PROG enhancing erythropoiesis and TRIOL suppressing glutamate-induced excitotoxicity. Thus, this study advances our understanding of the pathology induced by acute HH and provides potential compounds for the development of neuroprotectant drugs for therapeutic treatment.
基金supported by NIDDK RO1,USA(No.R01DK123299)(X.H.)MHMC/CWRU start-up(X.H.).R.M.was supported by a private cancer metabolism grant donation from Liechtenstein and the Austrian Science Fund(FWF)(No.SFB F4707 and SFB-F06105).
文摘CDC42 controls intestinal epithelial(IEC)stem cell(IESC)division.How aberrant CDC42 initiates intestinal inflammation or neoplasia is unclear.We utilized models of inflam-matory bowel diseases(IBD),colorectal cancer,aging,and IESC injury to determine the loss of intestinal Cdc42 upon inflammation and neoplasia.Intestinal specimens were collected to determine the levels of CDC42 in IBD or colorectal cancer.Cdc42 floxed mice were crossed with Villin-Cre,Villin-CreERT2 and/or Lgr5-eGFP-IRES-CreERT2,or Bmi1-CreERT2 mice to generate Cdc42 deficient mice.Irradiation,colitis,aging,and intestinal organoid were used to evaluate CDC42 upon mucosal inflammation,IESC/progenitor regenerative capacity,and IEC repair.Our studies revealed that increased CDC42 in colorectal cancer correlated with lower survival;in contrast,lower levels of CDC42 were found in the inflamed IBD colon.Colonic Cdc42 depletion significantly reduced Lgr5+IEsCs,increased progenitors'hyperplasia,and induced mucosal inflammation,which led to crypt dysplasia.Colonic Cdc42 depletion markedly enhanced irra-diation-or chemical-induced colitis.Depletion or inhibition of Cdc42 reduced colonic Lgr5+IESC regeneration.In conclusion,depletion of Cdc42 reduces the IESC regeneration and IEC repair,leading to prolonged mucosal inflammation.Constitutive monogenic loss of Cdc42 in-duces mucosal inflammation,which could result in intestinal neoplasia in the context of aging.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program(2016YFD0101003)of China and the National Natural Science Foundation of China(91735305,91435206,91635303-3,31701430 and 31421005).
文摘Coix lacryma-jobi,a plant species closely related to Zea and Sorghum,is an important food and medicinal crop in Asia.However,no reference genome of this species has been reported,and its exact phylogeny within the Andropogoneae remains unresolved.Here,we generated a high-quality genome assembly of coix comprising～1.73 Gb with 44485 predicted protein-coding genes.We found coix to be a typical diploid plant with an overall 1-to-1 syntenic relationship with the Sorghum genome,despite its drastic genome expansion(～2.3-fold)due mainly to the activity of transposable elements.Phylogenetic analysis revealed that coix diverged with sorghum～10.41 million years ago,which was～1.49 million years later than the divergence between sorghum and maize.Resequencing of 27 additional coix accessions revealed that they could be unambiguously separated into wild relatives and cultivars,and suggested that coix experienced a strong genetic bottleneck,resulting in the loss of about half of the genetic diversity during domestication,even though many traits have remained undomesticated.Our data not only provide novel comparative genomic and evolutionary insights into the Andropogoneae lineage,but also an important resource that will greatly benefit molecular breeding of this important crop.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31371585 and 30971755)the Beijing Youth Talent,China(31056102)
文摘Rice（Oryza sativa L.）, a tropical and subtropical crop, is susceptible to low temperature stress during seedling, booting, and flowering stages, which leads to lower grain quality levels and decreasing rice yields. Cold tolerance is affected by multiple genetic factors in rice, and the complex genetic mechanisms associated with chilling stress tolerance remain unclear. Here, we detected seven quantitative trait loci（QTLs） for cold tolerance at booting stage and identified one cold tolerant line, SIL157, in an introgression line population derived from a cross between the indica variety Guichao 2, as the recipient, and Dongxiang common wild rice, as the donor. When compared with Guichao 2, SIL157 showed a stronger cold tolerance during different growth stages. Through an integrated strategy that combined QTL-mapping with expression profile analysis, six candidate genes, which were up-regulated under chilling stress at the seedling and booting developmental stages, were studied. The results may help in understanding cold tolerance mechanisms and in using beneficial alleles from wild rice to improve the cold tolerance of rice cultivars through molecular marker-assisted selection.
基金This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32025027 and 31971892)the National Key Research and Exploiting Maize and Rice Domestication Development Program of China(2016YFD0100303)the Recruitment Program of Global Experts,and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities to F.T.Q.C.was supported by US NSF grant IOS 1934865 to John Doebley.
文摘Crop domestication has fundamentally altered the course of human history,causing a shift from huntergatherer to agricultural societies and stimulating the rise of modern civilization.A greater understanding of crop domestication would provide a theoretical basis for how we could improve current crops and develop new crops to deal with environmental challenges in a sustainable manner.Here,we provide a comprehensive summary of the similarities and differences in the domestication processes of maize and rice,two major staple food crops that feed the world.We propose that maize and rice might have evolved distinct genetic solutions toward domestication.Maize and rice domestication appears to be associated with distinct regulatory and evolutionary mechanisms.Rice domestication tended to select de novo,loss-of-function,coding variation,while maize domestication more frequently favored standing,gain-offunction,regulatory variation.At the gene network level,distinct genetic paths were used to acquire convergent phenotypes in maize and rice domestication,during which different central genes were utilized,orthologous genes played different evolutionary roles,and unique genes or regulatory modules were acquired for establishing new traits.Finally,we discuss how the knowledge gained from past domestication processes,together with emerging technologies,could be exploited to improve modern crop breeding and domesticate new crops to meet increasing human demands.
基金grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China(91954101,31771534,31570772,and 31070710 to B.L.and 81774022 to L.J.)National Basic Research Program of China(973 Program,2013CB531702 to B.L.and 2013CB531704 to G.Y.)the Scientific Research Foundation of University of South China(211RJC002 to B.L.).
文摘Interorganelle contacts and communications are increasingly recognized to play a vital role in cellular function and homeostasis.In particular,the mitochondria–endoplasmic reticulum(ER)membrane contact site(MAM)is known to regulate ion and lipid transfer,as well as signaling and organelle dynamics.However,the regulatory mechanisms of MAM formation and their function are still elusive.Here,we identify mitochondrial Lon protease(LonP1),a highly conserved mitochondrial matrix protease,as a new MAM tethering protein.The removal of LonP1 substantially reduces MAM formation and causes mitochondrial fragmentation.Furthermore,deletion of LonP1 in the cardiomyocytes of mouse heart impairs MAM integrity and mitochondrial fusion and activates the unfolded protein response within the ER(UPR^(ER)).Consequently,cardiac-specific LonP1 deficiency causes aberrant metabolic reprogramming and pathological heart remodeling.These findings demonstrate that LonP1 is a novel MAM-localized protein orchestrating MAM integrity,mitochondrial dynamics,and UPR^(ER),offering exciting new insights into the potential therapeutic strategy for heart failure.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.31611130033,31371328,and 31571366)Russian Foundation for Basic Research(Grant No.16-54-53064 and 15-04-05371)to OBD+4 种基金ICG SB RAS Budget Project(Grant No.0324-2016-0008)to YLOChina Scholarship Council&Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst(CSC&DAADProject-based Personnel Exchange ProgramGrant No.57136444)Science Technology Department of Zhejiang Province,China(Grant No.2015C32057)
文摘Eukaryotic genomes encode thousands of non-coding RNAs （ncRNAs）, which play cru- cial roles in transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Accumulating evidence indicates that ncRNAs, especially microRNAs （miRNAs） and long ncRNAs （lncRNAs）, have emerged as key regulatory molecules in plant stress responses. In this review, we have summa- rized the current progress on the understanding of plant miRNA and incRNA identification, characteristics, bioinformatics tools, and resources, and provided examples of mechanisms of miRNA- and lncRNA-mediated plant stress tolerance.
